Comments on: My Work Week http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/ Working To Live Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:04:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: TjL http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1069 TjL Sat, 19 Nov 2005 04:51:31 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/#comment-1069 Funny you should mention this, I've been trying to do the same thing recently (with limited success). For me, Monday is clean up and prep day. There are always a lot of people around, a lot of interruptions, so I use the day to plan the rest of the week and take care of any leftovers from the previous week. Tuesday is Shut Up and Work Day. I almost never accept a meeting on Tuesday if I can avoid it. It's the day that I do the least amount of email, the least amount of IM, the least amount of phone work. Ideally this would be the day that I was not even in the office but working somewhere no one knows who I am. (In reality I find I need too many things around my office.) I'll often put in a lot of hours on Tuesday as they seem to be productive ones. Wednesday is Task Day. I do followups on things that I started on Tuesday but needed to take a break from (point of diminishing returns). If at all possible I'll get out of the office on Wednesday afternoon because I have a weekly Wednesday night commitment. Thursday is the One Big Thing day. Energy may be low by this point, so I look at the list of things I'm working on and try to get determine which is the one I have to have done (or what to have done the most) by the end of the week. Friday is my flex day for whatever came up during the week that was urgent but not "Has To Be Today" As I said, that's the ideal. That perfect week is elusive, but it helps to have a plan. I do wonder, however, if planning on one "Really Effective Day" is a little weak, but it's a start. Also, I can hardly ever get all my meetings done in one day, but if I have any control over them at all I push them to later in the day and try to protect my mornings which are usually much more productive. Funny you should mention this, I’ve been trying to do the same thing recently (with limited success).

For me, Monday is clean up and prep day. There are always a lot of people around, a lot of interruptions, so I use the day to plan the rest of the week and take care of any leftovers from the previous week.

Tuesday is Shut Up and Work Day. I almost never accept a meeting on Tuesday if I can avoid it. It’s the day that I do the least amount of email, the least amount of IM, the least amount of phone work. Ideally this would be the day that I was not even in the office but working somewhere no one knows who I am. (In reality I find I need too many things around my office.) I’ll often put in a lot of hours on Tuesday as they seem to be productive ones.

Wednesday is Task Day. I do followups on things that I started on Tuesday but needed to take a break from (point of diminishing returns). If at all possible I’ll get out of the office on Wednesday afternoon because I have a weekly Wednesday night commitment.

Thursday is the One Big Thing day. Energy may be low by this point, so I look at the list of things I’m working on and try to get determine which is the one I have to have done (or what to have done the most) by the end of the week.

Friday is my flex day for whatever came up during the week that was urgent but not “Has To Be Today”

As I said, that’s the ideal. That perfect week is elusive, but it helps to have a plan. I do wonder, however, if planning on one “Really Effective Day” is a little weak, but it’s a start.

Also, I can hardly ever get all my meetings done in one day, but if I have any control over them at all I push them to later in the day and try to protect my mornings which are usually much more productive.

]]> By: enoch http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1050 enoch Wed, 16 Nov 2005 05:25:52 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/#comment-1050 I like the plan of having a plan for every day. I have "Marketing Mondays" where i do nothing but work on bringing in new business, but the rest of my week is like your wild card Tuesdays. Thanks for the ideas - I need more structure! I like the plan of having a plan for every day. I have “Marketing Mondays” where i do nothing but work on bringing in new business, but the rest of my week is like your wild card Tuesdays. Thanks for the ideas – I need more structure!

]]> By: Marcelo Ruiz http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1039 Marcelo Ruiz Mon, 14 Nov 2005 03:37:30 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/#comment-1039 I really never thought about organizing a week like that but will try it! I usually *try* to organize my day in two hours "modules", two in the morning and two in the afternoon, with a cofee break and lunch between them. I really never thought about organizing a week like that but will try it!
I usually *try* to organize my day in two hours “modules”, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, with a cofee break and lunch between them.

]]> By: slackah http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1036 slackah Thu, 10 Nov 2005 22:18:27 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/#comment-1036 <strong>Work Week Example</strong> To-Done's Keith has been starting a new business called Blue Flavor. Now he gives as a detailed look into his workweek scheduling. It's pretty interesting! Monday is meeting day. I've got a standing meeting in the early afternoon and if I c... Work Week Example

To-Done’s Keith has been starting a new business called Blue Flavor. Now he gives as a detailed look into his workweek scheduling. It’s pretty interesting!

Monday is meeting day. I’ve got a standing meeting in the early afternoon and if I c…

]]> By: Lee http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1033 Lee Wed, 09 Nov 2005 23:45:49 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/#comment-1033 Keith, you are inspirational. Thanks :) Keith, you are inspirational.

Thanks :)

]]> By: Brandy Karl http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Brandy Karl Wed, 09 Nov 2005 20:18:59 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/11/my-work-week/#comment-1032 I similarly do all planning/scheduling on Thursday. I avoid scheduled meetings on Monday in order to have the space open for emergencies, and only do meetings after noon - I do actual work in the mornings. The rest is a juggling act, but it's what my particular job demands :) Course I'm a big fan of brainstorming day. Always need to take a step back and ponder & generate ideas. I similarly do all planning/scheduling on Thursday. I avoid scheduled meetings on Monday in order to have the space open for emergencies, and only do meetings after noon – I do actual work in the mornings. The rest is a juggling act, but it’s what my particular job demands :) Course I’m a big fan of brainstorming day. Always need to take a step back and ponder & generate ideas.

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